Anti-electrostatic polyamides containing a urethane derivative of a polyether

ABSTRACT

A SYNTHETIC THERMOPLASTIC FIBER-FORMING POLYMER HAVING DURABLE ANTI-ELECTROSTATIC AND HYDROPHILIC PROPERTIES TO WITHSTAND REPREATED LAUNDERINGS, WHICH COMPRISES POLYAMIDE, AND WHICH UNIFORMLY CONTAINS 0.1-30% BY EIGHT BASED ON SAID POLYAMIDE OF AT LEAST ONE URETHANE DERIVATIVE OF POLYETHER WHICH IS A REACTION PRODUCT OF A DIISOCYANATE AND A MONO- OR DI-OL TY POLYALKYLENE-ETHER OR ITS DERIVATIVE. PROCESS FOR ITS MANUFACTURE AND FABERS COMPRISING THE POLYMER HAVE BEEN ALSO PROPOSED.

United States Patent 3,810,956 Patented May 14, 1974 3,810,956 ANTI-ELECTROSTATIC POLYAMIDES CONTAIN- ING A URETHANE DERIVATIVE OF A POLY- ETHER Isao Kimura and Fumimaro Ogata, Osaka, and Koichiro Ohtomo, Settsu, Japan, assignors to Kanegafuchi Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan No Drawing. Filed Apr. 20, 1970, Ser. No. 30,284 Claims priority, application Japan, Apr. 24, 1969, 44/32,207, 44/32,208; July 12, 1969, i l/55,318 Int. Cl. C08g 20/20 US. Cl. 260-857 R 23 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A synthetic thermoplastic fiber-forming polymer having durable anti-electrostatic and hydrophilic properties to withstand repeated launderings, which comprises polyamide, and which uniformly contains 01-30% by weight based on said polyamide of at least one urethane derivative of polyether which is a reaction product of a diisocyanate and a monoor di-ol type polyalkylene-ether or its derivative. Processes for its manufacture and fibers comprising the polymer have been also proposed.

This invention relates to a synthetic thermoplastic fiberforming polymer and in particular, polyamide, which is provided with durable antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties and fibers made therefrom.

Heretofore, there have been known numerous synthetic fibers comprising a thermoplastic synthetic linear polymer, and those consisting of a polyamide, which have been manufactured on the largest industrial scale are extremely hydrophobic as compared with natural fibers, so that the many drawbacks as well as advantageous features of those synthetic fibers resulting from their hydrophobicity cannot be overlooked. Namely, hydrophobic fibers and clothes made therefrom have disadvantages such as a waxy feeling, a poor fit, an aptitude to be grease stained, a difficulty to remove stains, and a likelihood of becoming electrostatically charged by friction which causes attraction of dust and various uncomfortable wearing properties. All of such disadvantages closely relate to the hydrophobicity of fibers.

In order to obviate such a hydrophobicity and its resultant drawbacks of synthetic fibers, numerous improved synthetic fibers having antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties have so far been proposed. However, most of those proposals comprise providing temporarily, by a surface treatment, synthetic fibers or textile products made therefrom with antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties which hardly withstand launderings or other aftertreatments. The rest of the proposals are to incorporate an antielectrostatic or hydrophilic agent into a synthetic fiber prior to its spinning, in most cases, such a fiber has been denatured with respect to its excellent characteristics inherent in its component polymer. As mentioned above, conventional processes for improving hydrophilic properties of synthetic fiber-forming polymers and fibers made therefrom have not always been satisfactory.

In more particular, there were tremendous numbers of proposals, in the fast, for modifying synthetic fibers by The processes for modifying synthetic fibers which have been proposed in the above disclosures can be classitied into the following items:

(1) A process wherein a thermoplastic polymer such as a polyamide is blended with PEG itself, under a molten condition during or after completion of its polycondensation.

(2) A process wherein PEG is halogenated and thereafter reacted with a nitrogenous compound such as ammonia and a diamine, or is cyanoalkylated and thereafter hydrogenated to convert the resulting nitrile groups into amino groups, and a finally resulted polyether diamine is incorporated and combined with a polyamide.

(3) A process wherein using an appropriate oxidizing agent, primary alcoholic hydroxyl end groups of PEG are oxidized into carboxylic groups and the resulted polyether dicarboxylic acid is employed for modifying a polymer.

(4) A process wherein PEG is reacted, at its hydroxyl end groups, with a diisocyanate to form a polyether diisocyanate and raw materials for polyamide, such as epsilon-caprolactam is polymerized in the presence of the above obtained polyether diisocyanate together with an alkali catalyst, to produce a modified polyamide. However, according to the process (1) above, since the PEG is only mixed but not chemically combined with the polymer, a fiber comprising the PEG modified polymer which has been provided with a hydrophilic property loses it through a washing treatment whereby the PEG readily comes ofi. Thus, the hydrophilic property provided thereto is deficient in durability and very unstable.

In synthesizing the polyether diamine which is to be mixed and combined with a polyamide, in the above process (2), it is difiicult to effect quantitatively the halogenation or the cyanoalkylation reactions of the end groups of the PEG, restraining side reactions and moreover, there has not so far been known a process for separating the objective polyether diamine with a high purity.

Further, in preparing the polyether dicarboxylic acid employed in the process (3), it is as difiicult as in the case of the aforementioned process (2) to quantitatively control the reaction of the end groups of PEG and the separation of the objective substance with a high purity is also impossible.

In the process (4), for instance, epsilon-caprolactam undergoes an ionic polymerization in the presence of the polyether diisocyanate and the alkali catalyst. However, in such a reaction system, the isocyanato groups react even with amide groups of the polymer during its polymerization, whereby a linear structure of the resulting polymer is deformed. When such a polymer is spun and the formed yarn is drawn, not only much difficulty is encountered in those processes, but also the resultant synthetic fiber yarn is not always provided with various superior properties which are inherent in the polymer.

Whereas, according to the present invention, a hydrophilic property can be readily provided to a synthetic thermoplastic linear condensation polymer, by incorporating thereinto a urethane derivative of a monoor di-ol type polyether, without being attended with such difficulty as in the conventional processes. Namely, the inventors have carried out extensive studies on provision of fibers com posed of a synthetic thermoplastic polyamide with superior antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties, without denaturing their inherent excellent characteristics, and have accomplished the present invention.

An object of the present invention is to provide fibers comprising a synthetic thermoplastic polyamide, with improved antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties which withstand repeated launderings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide synthetic fibers having exceedingly durable antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties, substantially not denaturing their other inherent, desirable properties.

Further objects will appear hereinafter.

Namely, the present invention is a synthetic thermoplastic fiber-forming polymer having durable antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties, which comprises polyamide, and which uniformly contains 0.1-30% by weight, based on said condensation polymer, of at least one urethane derivative of polyether selected from the group consisting of:

R (OR ),,OCONHR NCO (l) R CO(OR ),,OOONHR NCO (2) OCNR NHCO--( R O-CONHR NCO (3) where, n is an integer of 4-460; 0R denotes an alkyleneether group having 1-18 carbon atoms; R denotes hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a cycloalkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; R denotes an alkylene, phenylene or cycloalkylene group having 1-18 carbon atoms; R, and R denote an alkylene or phenylene group having 1-12 carbon atoms; R denotes hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms; and X denotes a residue of aminosulphonic acid or hydroxysulphonic acid or of an alkali metal salt thereof.

The synthetic thermoplastic fiber-forming polymer of the present invention is obtained by incorporating the above mentioned urethane derivative of polyether uniformly into the condensation polymer before, during or after its polycondensation reaction.

The above mentioned urethane derivative of polyether to be applied to the present invention is a reaction product of a diisocyanate containing R group and a monoor di- 01 type polyether having a general formula of wherein n is an integer of 4-460, preferably of 9-230; OR, is an alkyleneether group having 1-18 carbon atoms; and R is hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having l-l8 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a cycloalkyl group; or a product obtainable by further reacting the above mentioned reaction product with an aminocarboxylic acid or an hydroxycarboxylic acid, or with an aminosulphonic acid or an hydroxysulphonic acid denoted by X as hereinafter ex plained. The above mentioned polyether carboxylic acid and polyether sulphonic acid or their esters may be in a form of an alkali metal salt or of an alkaline earth metal salt, if required.

As already mentioned above, the 0R denotes an alkyleneether group having 1-18 carbon atoms, while the (OR may be a mixture of a plurality of aliphatic ethers differing in their carbon number. For instance, the (011 may be a mixture of or may be a random or a block copolymer thereof. From a practical point of vie-w, the most preferable are polyethyleneoxide, polypropyleneoxide, polytetramethyleneoxide, and block and random copolymers of ethyleneoxide and propyleneoxide.

The R denotes: hydrogen atom; an alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl and the like; an aryl group such as phenyl or its derivatives having the general formula RI RI! wherein R, R" and R' are hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups having 1-15 carbon atoms, and a naphthyl group and the like; and a cycloalkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, cycloundecyl, cyclododecyl and the like. The phenyl and its derivatives are, for instance, residues represented by omitting a hydroxyl group from phenols such as phenol, n-butylphenol, iso-butylphenol, amylphenol, dibutylphenol, diamylphenol, tripropylphenol, heptylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, decylphenol, undecylphenol, dodecylphenol, tetradecylphenol, cetylphenol, oleylphenol, octadecylphenol, dihexylphenol, trihexylphenol, diisoheptylphenol, dioctylphenol, dinonylphenol, didodecylphenol and the like, or from cresols having methyl group(s) combined to aromatic nucleus of the above mentioned phenols.

The R is an alkylene, phenylene or cycloalkylene group having 1-18 carbon atoms. As the diisocyanates having the R between their two isocyanato groups which are to react with a monoor di-ol type polyether, mention may be made of: an aliphatic diisocyanate such as, for instance, methane diisocyanate, ethane diisocyanate, propane diisocyanate, butane diisocyanate, butene diisocyanate, pentane diisocyanate, fi-methylbutane diisocyanate, hexane diisocyanate, dipropylether diisocyanate, heptane diisocyanate, dimethylpentane diisocyanate, methoxyhexane diisocyanate, octane diisocyanate, trimethylpentane diisocyanate, nonane diisocyanate, decane diisocyanate, butoxyhexane diisocyanate, butylene glycol dipropylether, w,w-diisocyanate, undecane diisocyanate, dodecane diisocyanate, tridecane diisocyanate, tetradecane diisocyanate, pentadecane diisocyanate, hexadecane diisocyanate, heptadecane diisocyanate, octadecane diisocyanate, and the like; a diisocyanate containing an aromatic or alicyclic ring in its molecule such as w,w'-diiSO cyanato-dimethylbenzol for instance,

metaor para-xylylene diisocyanate, a '-diisocyanatodimethylcyclohexane, w,w'-diisocyanato-diethylbenzol, w,w'-diisocyanato-dimethylnaphthalene, w,w-diisocyanato-diethylnaphthalene, 1-w-methylisocyanato-Z-w-n-propyl-isocyanatodimethylcyclohexane, w,w'-diisocyanato-propylbiphenyl and the like; and an aromatic diisocyanate such as phenylene diisocyanate, methylbenzol diisocyanate, dimethylbenzol diisocyanate, diethylbenzol diisocyanate, isopropylbenzol diisocyanate, n-propylbenzol diisocyanate, diisopropylbenzol diisocyanate, naphthalene diisocyanate, biphenyl diisocyanate, dimethylbiphenyl diisocyanate, dimethoxybiphenyl diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, methyldiphenylmethane diisocyanate, diphenyldi methylrnethane diisocyanate, tetramethyldiphenylmethane diisocyanate, cyclohexyl di(isocyanato-phenyl)methane, dimethoxydiphenylmethane diisocyanate, dimethoxyphenylmethane diisocyanate, diethoxydiphenylmethane diisocyanate, dimethyldimethoxydiphenylmethane diisocyanate, benzophenone diisocyanate, diphenylethane diisocyanate and the like.

The R; and R represent alkylene groups, phenylene groups or groups having the following general formula:

where, m is an integer of 1 or 2.

The R represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms.

The X is a residue of aminosulphonic acid or hydroxysulphonic acid or of an alkali metal salt thereof which is represented by omitting a hydrogen atom of its amino or hydroxyl group. The sulphonic acid or its salt has a molecular structure comprising an amino group containing at least one active hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group and at least one -SO M group wherein M denotes hydrogen atom or an alkali metal, and which may further comprises a carboxylic acid or its derivative represented by the formula --COOR In more particular, the following compounds are most suitable:

R represents hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or a lower alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl and the like; and Y represents hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl and the like, wherein relations, a+p=1 to 5 and b=0 to l are satisfied.

Alicyclic compounds $03M mmonn.@

[( DD 0 0 lq and 3 )b H0(CH2)." Hi2 wherein relations, a=0 to 3, b=l to 3, p=0 to 1 and q=0 to 1 are satisfied and R represents the same as above.

Aromatic compounds DIN) b HN (CH1); I

[(CHz) COOR (S 02M) b H 0 (CH2) a I CHD CO 0 R I 2M) 1: HMWEL K/l K QD IQ and K 2). I [(CHQpCOOR I,

wherein relations, a=0 to 3, b= 0 to 3, p=0 to l and q=0 to 1 are satisfied and R represents the same as above.

Besides the above mentioned organic compounds, exceptionally, NaHSO is also suitable for the X.

The urethane derivative of polyester to be applied to the present invention is readily obtainable quantitatively through a reaction between a monoor di-ol type polyether and a diisocyanate, or to the obtained urethane further adding an aminoor hydroxy-carboxylic acid or an aminoor hydroxy-sulphonic acid. Now, as an example, a reaction for deriving the urethane derivative, e.g., a polyether carboxylic acid or its ester from a diol type polyether will be illustrated referring to chemical equations hereafter. In the case of a mono-o1 type p'olyether, an equi-molar reaction between the polyether and a diisocyanate takes place and from the resulting reaction product a polyether carboxylic acid or its ester is derived.

Further, typical examples of the compounds shown in Formulae 10 and 12 are expressed as follows:

and

M-(CIIzOPhOh-C ONE S OaNa (CHH)2SOINB (12) In the process of the present invention, the amount of the urethane derivative of polyether to be incorporated into the condensation polymer, i.e., polyamide, is 0.1 30%, preferably (LS-15% and more preferably 1-10% by weight based on the condensation polymer.

In the case when the above mentioned amount is smaller than 0.1% by weight, the polymer cannot be provided with a suflicient hydrophilic property, while when the amount is in excess of 30% by weight, the viscosity of the polymer is decreased to be insufii-cient for meltspinning and the lowering of melting point of the polymer is large, whereby in either case, spinning and drawing processes will be attended with difiiculty, so that a synthetic fiber having excellent properties inherent in the condensation polymer is not obtainable.

As far as the amount of the urethane derivative of polyether incorporated into the condensation polymer is in the above mentioned range, an excellent durable hydrophilic property as well as an anti-electrostatic property can be provided to the polymer, i.e., a polyamide, without substantial deterioration of excellent properties inherent in the polymer, such as, for instance, high tenacity, elongation, tensile elasticity and dye receptivity of polyamides.

The above mentioned urethane derivative of polyether may be in any form of liquid, grease and wax, and it maybe also employable in the form of an aqueous dispersion.

When the condensation polymer is a polyamide, the urethane derivative of polyether may be incorporated either with raw materials for the polyamide prior to or during the polycondensation reaction or with the molten polyamide after the polycondensation reaction. Or, an excess of the urethane derivative may be admixed or reacted, in advance, with raw materials for the polyamide, to form a prepolymer which also can be incorporated with the polyamide in any time as mentioned above. In case of polyamide, a polymer chip and the urethane derivative can be blended mechanically in a predetermined proportion by mixing in a mixer or by kneading in a conventional monoor multiscrew extruder, and the blend can be melt extruded from nozzles in a form of a band which is cut into chips again or can be melt spun to form a filament yarn which is wound on a bobbiri. Furthermore, a fairly large excess of the urethane derivative may be incorporated with the polymer, to prepare, in advance, a so-called master chip of high content of the urethane derivative, and then the thus obtained master chip and a polymer chip containing no urethane derivative can be blended mechanically, or re-melted separately in respective melters and blended in a conventional extruder to form a blended chip or conjugately spun to form a so-called conjugate filament yarn.

The urethane derivatives of polyether shown in general Formulae 1-3 are effective particularly for improvement of polyamides. The aforementioned incorporation processes and conditions will be illustrated in more details hereinafter with respect to the case of a polyamide and the urethane derivatives (1)(3).

As already mentioned above, these urethane derivatives may be incorporated into the polyamide in any stage of its manufacture. However, it is preferable that the urethane derivative and polyamide-forming materials are reacted with each other at 80-100 C. for 1-2 hours prior to the polycondensation reaction and that the isocyanato end groups of the urethane derivative are blocked in advance. In such a case, polyamide-forming materials which have been admixed with the urethane derivative are heated and melted into a homogeneous phase, and then cooled down to a temperature of 80-l00 C. at which the monomer or prepolymer of polyamide and the urethane derivative react with each other for 1-2 hours. The urethane derivatives may be added to molten polyamide-forming materials which contain no urethane derivatives.

On the other hand, when the urethane derivative is added during the polycondensation reaction of the polyamide, preferably it is added at around the end of the polycondensation reaction where an inter-reaction between the polyamide and the urethane derivative is effected, for instance, at about 260 C. and terminated within an hour.

Further, in the case of an incorporation after the polycondensation reaction, attention should be paid to reaction conditions so as to prevent an excessive reaction between the polyamide and the urethane derivative, such as a reaction temperature of 240-260 C. and a reaction time of 40 minutes, preferably -30 minutes.

In all above mentioned cases, the polyamide or its raw materials and the incorporated urethane derivative are firmly combined with each other, and however, an excessive reaction between those which is to deteriorate desirable properties inherent in the polyamide should be restrained.

In the process of the present invention, it is preferred that the urethane derivative is added to the polyamide substantially under no influence of water and, in particular, a consideration should be given in cases of incorporation during and after the polycondensation reaction.

Therefore, the most advantageous is a process wherein a polyamide chip and the urethane derivative are melt blended with each other, extruded in a form of a band which is cut into chips, the formed chip is washed or not washed with water and finally dried to prepare a chip free from an influence of water.

In the present invention, the above mentioned polyamides are homopolyamides and copolyamides obtained by polycondensing at least one amide-forming compound selected from the group consisting of lactams, w-aminocarboxylic acids, and salts of a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid, in particular, for instance, e-caprolactam, a-aminocaproic acid and a nylon salt obtained from an arbitrary combination of a diamine such as an a,w-aliphatic diamine, e.g., hexamethylene diamine, a heterocyclic diamine, e.g., piperazine, dimethylpiperazine and N,N-substituted ring containing diamine derived therefrom, an alicyclic diamine represented by bis(p-aminocyclohexyl)methane or the like and an aromatic ring containing diamine, e.g., m xylylenediamine and p-xylylenediamine, with a dicarboxylic acid such as an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, e.g., adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, 1,10-decane dicarboxylic acid, etc., a ring containing dicarboxylic acid, e.g., terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and alicyclic acid obtained by hydrogenating the aromatic ring thereof.

Among the polyamide as mentioned above, preferable in the present invention is a polycondensation product of 'y-butylolactam, a-valerolactam, e-caprolactam, heptolactam, fi-aminocaproic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid, 9- aminononanoic acid, ll-aminoundecanoic acid or a nylon salt consisting of tetramethylene diamine, pentamethylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, heptamethylene diamine, octamethylene diamine, nonamethylene diamine, decamethylene diamine, undecamethylene diamine, dodecamethylene diamine, m-xylylene diamine, bis('yaminopropyl)ether, N,N-bis(w-aminopropyl) piperazine or 1,1l-diaminoundecane, and terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, dodecane dicarboxylic acid, hexahydroterephthalic acid, diphenylene- 4,4 dicarboxylic acid, diphenylmethane-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid or diphenylether-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid.

The above mentioned polyamides, may contain, as additives, inorganic or organic substances such as delustrants, pigments, dye stulfs, light stabilizers, fluorescent whitening agents, heat stabilizers, plasticizers, etc., if required.

The urethane derivative of polyether to be incorporated into a thermoplastic synthetic linear condensation polymer such as a polyamide, shows an excellent compatibility and satisfactory miscibility with those polymers, so that there never occurs an uneven mixing or combination or a phase separation during the steps of polymerization, melt blending or of melt spinning.

The polymer of the present invention improves its hydrophilic property to a large extent and which property has a durability to withstand repeated launderings.

When the polymer consisting of the urethane derivative of polyether and a synthetic linear condensation polymer is solely melt-spun or co-spun with a polymer same as above which does not have the urethane derivative incorporated thereinto or with a different polymer and the formed filament is subjected to a drawing process, then a synthetic fiber having excellent anti-electrostatic and hydrophilic properties is manufactured. In particular, a conjugate fiber which consists of at least two adherent and distinct components extending uniformly along the fiber axis, said one component comprising a thermoplastic synthetic fiber-forming linear condensation polymer as hereinbefore described and another component comprising the aforementioned polymer of the present invention, has advantageous properties such as combined characteristics of those conjugated polymers and an excellent crimpability upon a heating or swelling treatment in the case when said components are arranged in a side by side or eccentric sheath-core relationship in the cross-section of the unitary filament, and it also possesses excellent anti-electrostatic and hydrophilic properties as long as the said polymer of the invention exists continuously along the fiber axis, even if it occupies a rather small portion of the fiber.

As mentioned above, the fibers of the present invention have obviated any drawbacks caused by a deficiency of antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties in conventional synthetic fibers and have overcome defects of conventional processes for imparting temporary antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties to synthetic fibers. In particular, the fibers of the present invention have not any wearing uncomfortableness inherent in hydrophobic fibers and have a hand similar to natural fibers, and therefore, they are suitable as materials for various garments, upholsteries, industrial goods, etc., in a form of fibers or other shaped articles.

The present invention will be illustrated in more detail according to the following examples. In the examples, part or percent means by weight, and the notation [1;] represents an inherent viscosity determined in a metacresol solvent at 30 C. in the case of a polyamide.

As test-pieces for determinations of water absorbency and voltage of triboelectricity of fibers, use was made of a drawn yarn which was washed in 0.2% aqueous solution of a household abluent at 80 C. for)30 minutes, rinsed repeatedly five times in hot water and dried.

The voltage of triboelectricity of fibers was determined according to the following manner:

A test-piece of yarn was conditioned for 24 hours in an atmosphere of 20 C., 65% RH. and thereafter passed rubbing on a titan porcelainous body at a running speed of 100 meters per minute under a constant tension exerted thereupon by a tension washer, to generate triboelectricity, the voltage of which was measured by an electrostatic induction method by means of a rotatory sector.

EXAMPLE 1 0.1 mol of polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 1,000 was reacted with 0.2 mol of tolylene diisocyanate (a mixture of 80% of tolylene-2,4- diisocyanate and 20% of tolylene-2,6-diisocyanate) at 80 C. for 3 hours, thereafter dissolved in an approximately equal part to the polyethylene glycol, of N,N'- dimethylformarnide (hereinafter referred to as DMF) and after lowering the temperature of the solution, the solution was reacted with 0.2 mol of methylester of glycine at 30 C. for 30 minutes, to prepare polyethylene glycol diisocyanate.

On the other hand, 90 parts of epsilon-caprolactam and 10 parts of epsilon-aminocaproic acid were mixed with each other and melted at 170 C. in nitrogen gas atmosphere in a test tube and after cooling the temperature to 90 C., 7 parts of the above prepared polyethylene glycol diisocyanate were added and dissolved in the melt. Then, after maintaining the test tube at that temperature for an hour under atmospheric pressure, the temperature was elevated to 250 C. at which a polymerization was conducted for hours. Upon cooling, was obtained a candlelike polymer which was melt spun at 270 C. to form a filament yarn. The spun yarn was cold drawn to 3.55 times its original length at 20 C. under 65% RH. to obtain a drawn yarn.

10 Further, a control yarn of nylon-6 was prepared in the same manner and under the same conditions as above, except that polyethylene glycol was employed in lieu of the polyethylene glycol diisocyanate. Test results on those yarns are given in the following Table 1.

The yarn of the present invention possessed an excellent water absorbency even after 5 time washings.

EXAMPLE 2 400 parts of polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 4,000 was melted at C. in a vessel and 50 parts of diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate were added thereto. The mixture was reacted at the above mentioned temperature for 3 hours under agitation to prepare polyethylene glycol diisocyanate.

0n the other hand, parts of epsilon-caprolactam and 10 parts of epsilon'aminocaproic acid were melt blended in the same manner as in Example 1 and to the melt was added a predetermined amount of the above obtained polyethylene glycol diisocyanate, whereafter the procedures same as in Example 1 were repeated. 10 series of the above process were performed, varying the addition amount of the polyethylene glycol diisocyanate, and 10 kinds of yarn sample were prepared. Test results on those samples will be given in Table 2 which follows:

TABLE 2 .Aq. soluble Water Amount of diisocyanate content Tenacity absorbency added (percent) [1 (percent) (g./den.) (percent) I Not splnnable.

It is apparent from Table 2 above, when 0.1% or more of polyethylene glycol diisocyanate is incorporated, nylon- 6 can be provided with an excellent water absorbing property.

EXAMPLE 3 Using polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 2,000, polyethylene glycol diisocyanate was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

On the other hand, 90 parts of a nylon-66 chip having an inherent viscosity [07] of 1.1 and 40 meq./kg. of amino end group were mixed sufiiciently with 8 parts of the above mentioned polyethylene glycol diisocyanate, whereafter the mixture was charged, through a hopper, into an extruder heated at 280 C. and extruded to spin a filament yarn which was then drawn to 3.5 times its original length to obtain a drawn yarn Y of 240 denier of 1'8 filaments.

Further, a control yarn Y and a comparative yarn Y were prepared in the same manner and under the same conditions as the above, except that, for the yarn Y the polyethylene glycol diisocyanate was not incorporated and, for the yarn Y polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 2,000 was employed in lieu of the polyethylene glycol diisocyanate. Test results on those yarns are given in Table 3 which follows:

On the other hand, as a control sample, another chip was prepared in the same manner and under the same EXAMPLE 4 400 parts of polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 4,000 which had been absolutely dried in advance were melted at 80 C. in a vessel. After adding 50 parts of diphenylmethane 4,4 diisocyanate, the melt was reacted at the same temperature as the above for 3 hours under agitation. Then, 300 parts of DMF conditions as the above, except that the polyethylene glycol bis-carboxyethylester was not added.

From each of the obtained chips were extracted aqueous soluble contents by washing with hot water at 80 C. for 20 hours and thereafter dried at 80 C. under a reduced pressure of 0.1 mm. Hg until its water content was reached to 0.069%.

The above mentioned chip was fed into a screw extruder type melt spinning apparatus and melt spun at 270 C. to form a yarn of 240 denier of 18 filaments which was taken up on a tube. The freshly spun undrawn yarn thus formed was cold drawn to 3.55 times its original length, at 20 C. under 65% R.H. The resultant yarns exhibited their properties as shown in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4 Polymer Fiber Aq. Elonga- Water absorbenry PE G-B C E A solubl tion at (percent) Serial added content Tenacity break 0. (percent) [1 (percent) (g./den.) (percent) 80% R.H. 100% R.H.

1. 2 8. 4. 8 32. 5 4. 8 9. 2 0. 02 1. 2 8. 4 4. 8 32. 5 4. 8 9. 3 0. 05 1. 1 8. 4 4. 7 32. 9 4. 9 10. 0 0. 1 1.1 8. 5 4. 8 33.6 5. 0 10. 7 0.5 1. 1 8. 6 4. 8 32. 9 5. 1 13.1 0. 8 1. 1 8.7 4. 7 33.1 5.1 13. 7 1 1. 1 8. 8 4. 7 33. 5 5. 3 14. 5 5 1. 0 8. 9 4. 7 33.1 5. 7 16. 1 10 1.0 9. 7 4. 6 34. 6 6. 0 17. 2 0.9 11. 3 4. 2 36. 8 7. 5 18. 8 0.7 18. 5 3. 2 45. 0 8. 4 24. 3 0. 6 21. 1 Dlflicult to spin PE G-B CE A Polyethylene glycol bis-carboxyethylester.

were added to the reactants and 31.8 parts of ethylester of epsilon-aminocaproic acid were further added thereto, maintaining the inner temperature at 27-30 C. while agitating. After the agitation was carried out for 30 minutes, the vessel was placed upon a boiling water bath, to distil out the DMF under a reduced pressure. Thus, obtained was polyethylene glycol biscarboxyethylester in a waxy form which had a saponification value of 0.392 meq./ g. and a hydroxyl value of 0 meq./ g.

Further, 100 parts of epsilon-caprolactam, 3 parts of water, 0.3 part of titanium dioxide, a small part of an inorganic manganate light stabilizer, 0.15 part of acetic acid and a predetermined amount, as shown in Table 4, of the aforementioned polyethylene glycol bis-carboxyethylester were introduced into an autoclave which was purged with nitrogen gas, and where the reaction mixture was heated at 260 C. for 3 hours under a gauge pressure of 1.5 kg./cm. and further heated at 260 C. for 2 hours under atmospheric pressure while agitating. Thus a precondensation polymer was prepared. Next, the internal pressure was reduced until an absolute pressure of 300 mm. Hg was reached. After effecting a polycondensation reaction at 260 C. for 5 hours under the above mentioned reduced pressure, the resultant polymer was extruded in a form of a band from the bottom of the autoclave, pressurizing with nitrogen gas at 3 kg./cm. The extruded polymer travelled through a quenching water pool, solidified and cut into a chip having a 3 mm. diameter and 3 mm. length. =Eleven kinds of chips were prepared by performing eleven series of the above mentioned process, varying the addition amount of the polyethylene glycol bis-carboxyethylester.

It was understood from the test results as shown in Table 4 above that when the amount of the polyethylene glycol bis-carboxyethylester was in a range between 0.1 and 30%, a hydrophilic property was provided to the polyamide fiber without appreciable deterioration of its inherent desirable properties and, in particular, a good result was obtained in the case of the amount of the urethane derivative ranging 05-15%.

Next, the drawn yarns manufactured in the foregoing experiments, Serial Nos. 1-11, were knit into respective tricots of a back half texture which were subjected to washings successively with a washing agent and with water, followed by drying. The dried fabrics were stretched horizontally and a drop of water was dropped upon each fabric from 2 cm. up above. A time required for water to spread to a width of a circle having a diameter of 4 cm. was measured to determine a water absorbing velocity (sec.). The results are given in Table 5 which follows:

Furthermore, the fiber containing 5% of polyethylene glycol bis-carboxyethylester, which was prepared in the foregoing experiment Serial No. 8, was subjected to 15 series of a washing treatment which comprises a sequence of a 30 minute soaping with 0.5% aqueous solution of an 14 ene glycol bis-carboxymethylester had an average molecular weight of ZOO-20,000, the polymerization reaction of epsilon-caprolactam involved no difiiculty and nylon yarns having a hydrophilic property were obtained. Partieularly good results were obtained when the average 5 abluent and success1ve 3 time washings with hot water, -molecular weight of polyethylene glycol employed fell each for 10 minutes. A change of water absorbency due within a range of 400-l0,000. Besides, the hydrophilic to extraction of polyethylene glycol bis-carboxyethylester property provided to the fibers was durable enough to during the above mentioned treatments was measured. The withstand repeated washings. result is given in the following Table 6. 10 When polyethylene glycol having an average molecu- TABLE 6 lar weight of 40,000 was employed, the resulted fiber was discolored appreciably into an yellowish shade, while in Frequency of Washlllg q' if g y unde; the case of 10,000 or less, discoloration was not observed.

treatment: 100 (percent 1 160 15 EXAMPLE 6 3 15.8 A polyethylene glycol bis-carboxymethylester was pre- 5 15.7 pared by reacting 0.1 mol of polyethylene glycol having 15.7 an average molecular weight of 2,000 with 0.2 mol of 15.5 hexamethylene diisocyanate in the same manner as in Example 4, and by further reacting therewith 0.2 mol of AS apparent q Tab1e.6 above the hydrop Prop methylester of gammahydroxypropionic acid. To the reerty had a durablhty to Wlthstan? reputed sultant reaction product was added 0 41 mol of DMF The results of the above mentioned experiments show as a solvent After dissolvin g the product in the solvent, that moqlfied Qolyamlde fibers of the Pl Invention 0.2 mol of hexamethylenediamine was added to the soluarc provlded Wlth an excellent.hydrophmc property tion and refluxed for 5 hours. After distilling out DMF, able to Wthstand repeated washmgs' a polyethylene glycol diamine was obtained in a waxy EXAMPLE 5 form. According to the same process as in Example 4, 0.1 the p 92 parts of a nylon-66 chlp havlllg an inherent viscosity of 1.1 and 40 meq./kg. of its mol each of polyethylene glycols differing 1n their avamino end group were mixed sufficiently with 8 parts erage molecular weight was reacted with 0.2 mol of tolylof the above obtained powdery polyethylene glycol d1- ene dnsocyanate (a mlxture of 80% of tolylene-2,4-d1- amine, whereafter the mixture was charged, through a isocyanate and 20% of tolylene-2,5-dnsocyanate) at 80 ho a pper, lnto an extruder heated at 280 C. and melt C., thereafter dissolved in DMF and, after lowering the extruded to form an undrawn yam of 240 denier of 18 temperature of the solutlon, the solutlon was reacted with filaments which was thereafter drawn m 3.5 times its 0.2 mol of mcthylester of glycine at 300 C. Thus, 7 original length kind? of polyafhylene glycol bls'cijrboxymffthylester w Further, a control yarn and a comparative yarn were obtained. During a polycondensation reaction of epsilunprepared by mix spinning and drawing in the same P 'P 5% eaclf, based on the lactam: of the above ner and under the same conditions as the above, except obtained urethane derivatives of polyethylene glycol were 40 that, f the control yam h polyethylene glycol bi added to polycofldensatlon l'eactlofl System under the carboxymethylester was not incorporated and, for the same COI'ldltlOllS as 111 Example 4, Whlle as a Control comparative yarn polyethylene glycol having an average sample, the above mentioned urethane derivative was not molecular weight of 2,000 wa employed i lieu of the f and 3 kinds of polyamlde P P P The polyethylene glycol bis-carboxymethylester. Test results ChIPS Were sublefled to a hot Water Washlng followed by on the properties of those yarns are given in Table 8 drying in the same manner as in Example 4, and melt which f llows;

TABLE 8 Yarn Water absorbency Voltage of tribaproperty (percent) electricity (v.)

Elongagation at After 5 content Tenaclt break Before time Yarn sample (percent) (gJdenX (percent) RH. R.H. washing washings Control 0.7 4. 7 20. 2 5. 1 9. 7 1. 250 1, s00 Comparative 5.8 4. s 21. o 5. a 11.. 2 200 1, 100 T1115 invention 1. 4 4. 4 23. 4 6. 6 18.. 5 18 extruded to form respective filament yarns which were drawn thereafter. Properties of the drawn yarns are given in Table 7 which follows:

Namely, as apparent from Table 8 above, in the case of incorporation of polyethylene glycol, most of the polyethylene glycol came off upon the washing treat- TABLE 7 Polymer Yarn property Aq. Elonga- Water absorbency soluble tion at (percent) Average M.W. 01 PEG content Tenacity break m used [11] (percent) (g./den.) (percent) 80% RH. 100% RE.

PE G-BCE =Polyetbylene glycol bis-carboxymethylestcr.

As apparent from Table 7 above, when the polyethylment, so that a durable anti-electrostatic property was not ene glycol; i.e., one of the raw materials for the polyethyl- 75 provided to the fiber, whereas a fiber having a durable antielectrostatic property was obtainable according to the process of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 7 The result shown above remained unchanged even when the frequency of washing was increased. Therefore, it is clarified by Table 9 that polyethylene glycol sulphonic acid derivative incorporated into polyamide or its fiber 400 Parts P y y glycol having an average does not come off the polymer, so that it provides the molecule! Welght Of 4,000 which had been completely fiber with durable antielectrostatic and hydrophilic prophydrated in advance were melted at 80 C. in a vessel. erties.

With the melt, 50 parts of diphenylmethane-4,4'-diiso- EXAMPLE 3 cyanate were admixed and reacted at the same temperature as the above for 3 hours under agitation. Then, after 10 A derivative of polyethylene glycol sulphonic acid was adding 600 parts of toluene, a solution prepared by disprepared under the entirely same condition as in Exsolving 30 parts of beta-aminoethane-sulphonic acid ample 7, except that polyethylene glycol having an average sodium salt in 120 parts of water was further added to molecular weight of 2,000 was employed. 90 parts of the above mentioned reaction mixture while maintaining control nylon-6 chip prepared in Example 10 and 10 parts the inner temperature at 27-30" C. under agitation. The of the compound above obtained and granulated were agitation was conducted for 30 minutes and thereafter the mixed well with each other, fed into a hopper from which vessel was placed upon a boiling water bath to distil out air was excluded and then extruded in a form of a band toluene under a reduced pressure and an objective, from a mono-screw extruder having its barrel diameter waxy polyethylene glycol sulphonic acid derivative was of 40 mm., at 260 C. The band was cut into a chip obtained. which was dried at 80 C. under a reduced pressure of Further, 5 parts of the thus obtained compound, 95 0.1 mm. Hg and subjected to spinning and drawing procparts of epsilon-caprolactam, 3 parts of water, 0.3 part esses under the same conditions and in the same manner of titanium dioxide, a small part of inorganic manganate as in Example 7, to obtain a drawn yarn of 70 denier of light stabilizer and 0.15 part of acetic acid were in- 18 filaments. The polymer and the yarn possesses their troduced into an autoclave and fater purging with nitrogen properties shown in the following Table 10.

TABLE 10 Blend polymer Yarn property Aq. solu- Elonga- Water absorbency Voltage 01 ble tion at (percent) triboeleccontent Tenacity break tricit [1;] (percent) (g./den.) (percent) 80% RH. 100% RH. (v.)

gas, sequential heatings, i.e., at 260 C. under a gauge In Table 10 above, both the water absorbency and the pressure of 1.5 kg./cm. for 3 hours and at 260 C. voltage of triboelectricity were measured on the sample under atmospheric pressure for 2.5 hours, were conducted to obtain a prepolymer. Whereafter, the inner pressure was reduced to an absolute pressure of 300 mm. Hg and a polycondensation reaction was effected at 260 C. for 5 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the polymer was extruded in a form of a band from the bottom of the autoclave, pressurizing with nitrogen gas at 3 kg./ cm?. The extruded polymer travelled through a quenching water pool, was solidified and was cut into a chip having a 3 mm. diameter and a 3 mm. length.

On the other hand, as a control sample, another chip was manufactured in the same manner and under the same condition as the above, except that the polyethylene glycol sulphonic acid derivative was not added.

Each of the above obtained chips was washed in water at 80 C. for 20 hours to extract water soluble contents therefrom and dried at 80 C. under a reduced pressure of 0.1 mm. Hg until its water content reached to 0.069%.

Using a screw extruder type melt spinning apparatus, each of the above mentioned dried chips was melt spun at 270 C. to form an undrawn yarn of 240 denier of 18 filaments which was taken up on a tube. The thus formed undrawn yarn was cold drawn to 3.59 times its original length at 20 C. under 65% RR, and obtained was a drawn yam having properties as shown in the following Table 9.

after washing 5 times as in Example 7 and even after more washings were repeated, those values remained substantially unchanged. From the above experiment, the provision of durable antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties to condensation polymers according to the process of the present invention was ascertained.

EXAMPLE 9 Polyethylene glycol having one of its hydroxyl end groups blocked by a methyl radical and having an average molecular weight of 1,000, was completely dehydrated. 0.3 mol of the thus dehydrated polyethylene glycol was weighed out and introduced into an autoclave, where 0.3 mol of hexamethylene diisocyanate was admixed and reacted therewith at C. for 5 hours under agitation. Then, 500 g. of toluene were added and dissolved the reaction mixture therein. A solution prepared by dissolving 0.6 mol of 1-amino-3-sodiumcarboxy-propane-Z-sulphonic acid soda in 50 g. of water was further added and reacted therewith for 30 minutes maintaining the inner temperature at 2730 C. under agitation. Whereafter, toluene and water were distilled out under a reduced pressure on a boiling water bath and an objective greasy product was obtained.

On the other hand, a solution prepared by dispersing and dissolving 81 parts of nylon-66 salt in 55 parts of TABLE 9 Yarn property A Elonga- Water absorbency Voltage solub l e T it ttgn a; (percent) elgttrlictixtocontent enac y we Yam sample 11 (percent) (g/den.) (percent) 80% ILH. RH. (v.) Present invention L2 9,0 4.3 32.6 6.3 16.1 1 0 Control 1.2 3, 4.9 35.1 4.8 .2 1,600

After washing 5 times,

water was charged in an autoclave previously purged sufficiently with nitrogen gas, where a reaction was effected for 3 hours at an inner temperature of 300' C., under an inner pressure of 6 kgJcmF, and after reducing the inner pressure to atmospheric pressure, the reaction was further efiected for an hour.

Whereafter, 30 parts of the greasy product above ob tained were incorporated and a reaction was effected for 30 minutes under atmospheric pressure while agitating. Then after stopping the agitation, the inner pressure was reduced to 300 mm. Hg under which pressure the reaction was further carried out for an hour at 280' C. When the reaction was completed, nitrogen gas was introduced into the autoclave and the polymer was extruded in a form of a band from the bottom of the autoclave being pressurized at 3 kgJcmF. The extruded polymer was quenched and solidified in a quenching water pool and cut into a chip.

Further, 50 parts of a nylon-66 chip having an inherent viscosity of 1.2 and 40 meq./kg. of amino end group were blended well with 50 parts of the chip above obtained which had been sufiiciently dried. The blend chips were fed into a hopper and melt spun from an extruder at 280 C. and an undrawn yarn of 240 denier of 18 filaments was obtained. The nndrawn yarn was not drawn to 3.5 times its original length, passing on a roll heated at 90 C. As a control yarn, a nylon-66 yarn was prepared by melt spinning a nylon-66 chip solely in the same manner and under the same conditions as the above, while, as a comparative yarn, the'aforementioned methoxylated polyethylene glycol having the same average molecular weight as the above was incorporated with a nylon-66 chip which was prepared by polycondensing nylon-66 in the same manner and under the same conditions as the above and a yarn was prepared by spinning and drawing the blend chip.

Those yarns had their properties as shown in the following Table 11.

TABLE 11 18 ldQ CO(OR OCONHR NHCO-X an X OONR NHCO(OR OCQNHR -NI-ICO X wherein n is an integer of 4-460; 0R denotes an alkyleneeth elr group having 1-l8 caribonatoms; R denotes hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a cycloalkyl group having l-18 carbon atoms; R denotes an alkylene, phenylene or cycloalkylene group, having 1-18 carbon atoms; R and R denote an alkylene or phenylene group having 1-12 carbon atoms; R denotes hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-l2 carbon atoms; and X is (A) a residue obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from the amino group of an aminosulphonic acid or the hydroxyl group of a hydroxy-sulfonic acid, or an alkali metal salt thereof, or (B) an alkali metal sulphonate radical.

2. A polymer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the (OR is polyethyleneoxide, polypropyleneoxide, polytetramethyleneoxide, or a block or random copolymer of ethyleneoxide and propyleneoxide.

3. ,A polymer as claimed in claim 2 wherein n is an integer of 9-230.

1 4. A polymer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the (0R is a mixture of a plurality of aliphatic ethers differing in their carbon number.

5. A polymer as claimed in claim I- wherein the urethane derivative of polycther is selected from the group consisting of:

X-CONHR NHCO(OR OOONHR NHCO X wherein X is a residue of an aliphatic compound represented by the formula,

Aq. soluble content (percent) Tenacity (g. den.)

Present invention Com arative (CHsO-PEG ad ed) Control (no additive) The water absorbency and both the voltage of triboelectricity were measured on samples after washing 5 times, same as in Example 7, and even when after more washings were repeated, those values remained substan-- tially unchanged.

As apparent from the above, the methoxypolyethylene glycol itself readily comes off the fiber, while according to the process of the present invention, the urethane derivative scarcely comes off, so that durable antielectrostatic and hydrophilic properties can be provided to nylon fibers.

What is claimed is:

1. A polymer composition consisting essentially of a fiber-forming polyamide having uniformly distributed therein from 0.130% by weight, based on said polyamide, of at least one urethane derivative of polycther selected from the group consisting of:

CONHRaNHCO-OR5000Rg,

Elo atlon a i break (percent) 1 Water absorbency (percent) Voltage of triboelectrlclty (v.)

or HOR SO M where, R represents 'R represents hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or a lower alkyl group; and Y represents hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, wherein relations a+p=l to 5 and b==0 to 1 are satisfied.

6. A polymer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the urethane derivative of polycther is selected from the group consisting of v R CO(OR ),,OCONHR NHCO -X and consisting of:

19 wherein X is a residue of an alicyclic compound'ire'presented by the formula, 4 I

where, R represents hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or a lower alkyl group; and relations, 4:0 to 3, b=1 to 3,

p= to l and q=0 to 1 are satisfied.

7. A polymer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the urethane derivative of polyether is selected from the group R CO(OR -OCONHR NHCOX and a X-CONHR3NHCO(OR1)nOCONHR3NHCO-X wherein X is a. residue of an aromatic compoundrepresented by the formula, I

where, R represents hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or a lower alkyl group; and relations, a=0 to p=0 to l and q=0 to l are satisfied.

8. A polymer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the urethane derivative of polyether is selected from the group consisting of: I

XCONHR NHCO(OR OCONHR NHCOX where, X is acid sodium sulphite.

9. A polymer asv claimed in claim 1, wherein the amount of the urethane derivative is 05-15% by weight based on the polyamide.

10. A polymer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amount of the urethane derivative is 1-10% by weight based on the polyamide.

11. A polymer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 3, b=0 to.3,

polyamide is a polycondensation product ofan w-lactam,

an w-aminocarboxylic acid, or a salt of a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid; the urethane derivative is selected from the group consisting of: i I

R CO(OR ),,OC0NHR NCO g (OR OCONHR NCO an OCNR NI-ICO(OR OC0NHR NCO. 12. A polymer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyamide is poly-epsilon-G p qanl de 0r polyhexamethylene adipamide.

13. A-fiber comprising a polymer as claimed in claim 1. J 14-. A process for producing a'polymer as claimed in claim '1, which comprisesincorporating 0.1-30 parts by weight of at least 'oneurethane derivative of polyether selected from the group consisting of:

R (OR ),,OC0NHR NCO, R CO(OR ),,0CONHR NCO,

OCNR -NHCO(OR ),,O-CONHR NCO, R2 (ORI') 1 R CO(OR O-CONHR NHCO-NHR CO0R v.: 1 R (OR 0-CONHR NHCO+OR COOR r 'R CO(0R1)fiO'-CONHR NHCO-OR COOR --R5OOCR NH+CONHR NHC0(OR ),,O CONHR NHCO-NHR COOR R 0OCR O+CONHR NHCO(OR1)n0-- CONHR3NHCO-OR5COORs, ,R (OR OCONHR NHCO'X :X['ONCR]CONHR NHCO(OR OCONHRgNHCjO-X wherein, n is an integer of 4460; 0R denotes an alkylcneethe'rlgroup having l-18 carbon atoms; R denotes hydrogen atom, an alkyl group=having 1-18 carbon atoms, 'anaryl group or a cycloa'lkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; R denotes an alkylene, phenylene or cycloalkylene group, having 1-'l8'carbon atoms; R; and R denote an alkylene or phenylene group having -l-l2 carbon atoms; 'R denotes hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms; and X is (A) a residue 'obtainedby removing a hydrogen atom from the amino group of an aminosulphonic acid or the hydroxyl group of a hydroxysulfonic acid, or'an"alkali metal salt thereof, or (B) an alkali metal sulphonate radical, uniformly into 100 parts by weight of fiber-forming polyamide, before, during or after a polycondensation reaction of the said polyamide.

15. 'A process according to claim 14, wherein the amount of the urethane derivative is 0.5-15 parts by weight.

16. A process according to claim 14, wherein the amount of the urethane derivative is 1-10 parts by weight.

17. A process according to claim 14, wherein the urethane derivative is selected from the group consisting of:

OCNR NHCO(OR OCONHR NCO; and the condensation polymer is a polycondensation product of an w-lactam, an wraminocarboxylic acid, or a salt of a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid.

18. A process according to claim 17, wherein the urethane derivative is incorporated with the raw ma- .terial of the polyamide and which further comprises heating the mixture at -100 C. for 1-2 hours prior to a polycondensation reaction.

' 19. A process according to claim 17, wherein the urethane derivative is incorporated with the polyamide at around the end of the polycondensation reaction, and which further comprises heating the mixture to eflect an iinter-reaction between the polyamide and the urethane derivative within an hour. '20. A process according to claim 17, wherein the urethane derivative is incorporated with the polyamide after the polycondensation reaction and which further comprises heating the mixture at 240260 C. for 40 minutes or less. I

21. A process according to claim 20, wherein the heating is effected for 15-30 minutes.

22. A process according to claim 14, wherein the polyamide is poly-epsilon caproamide or polyhexamethylene adipamide.

23. A polymer as claimed in claim 1, in which the condensation polymer is acopolyamide of epsilon-caprolactam and epsilon-aminocaproic acid, and in which the methane derivative is the product of the reaction of polyethylene glycol with diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 22 3,152,920 10/1964 Caldwell et al. 117-1383 3,654,235 4/1972 Crovatt et a1. 26078 LESTER L. LEE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

26047 CB, 75 N, 75 TN, 78 L, 73 SC, 78 UA, 855, Dig. 21

IJNifiEQE) STA'EHES jk'fiENT OFFECR (IER'FEE FMIA'EEQ, W CURREEQ'HON Patent No. 3 10 955 Dated Mav l4 1974 Inventor(5) Isao Kimura, Fumimaro Ogata and Koichiro Ohtomo It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 18, before the first line thereof; insert "as an additional formula ---R (OR OCONHR NHCOX,-.

Col. 18, line 3; delete in its entirety and replace with --"-X-CONHR.NHCO (OR OCONHR NHCO-X-.

Col. 18, line 21; change "Claim 2" to --Claim l--.

Col. 19, line 70 change "a co(,oR ocoNHR Nc0" to -"R2 (0R1) OCONHR NCO Col. 19 line 71; change "R2 (GR OCONHR NCO" to --R co(0R oc0NHR Nc0---;

Col. 20 line 19; delete {ONCR} Col. 20, line 21; change "wherein, to -where,'

Signed and sealed this 8th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR c, MARSHALL DANN attesting ufficer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-F'69 E U.Sv GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 199 O3$6-33|. X 

